Many among the African American community in Maple Heights, want to discuss the city's finances. In light of, the superintendent of Maple Heights school's call to renew a levy, this administration's call to renew a levy in November, *very high home foreclosures (and see Plain Dealer article listing Maple Heights as worst regarding property values in Cuyahoga County / 2009), continued high unemployment, troubling signs in this economy, and the perception that the current administration is hiding something from residents, ... a public meeting is definitely warranted.
Several African American homeowners want to know what the police are doing to help raise revenue for themselves. Are they enforcing the noise ordinance, which carries hefty fines? Are they enforcing other ordinances that help generate revenue for this city?
Several African American homeowners want to know what the police are doing to help raise revenue for themselves. Are they enforcing the noise ordinance, which carries hefty fines? Are they enforcing other ordinances that help generate revenue for this city?
Years ago, the city of Maple Heights worked out an agreement (1) to make sure African Americans had more representation in the police and fire departments, schools, etc. Well, the plan is not working well (even though the schools have seen much improvement), and with some city departments, the plan is not working at all.
Minorities are still significantly under represented even though African Americans are almost 70% (or more) of the population in Maple Heights. What are the city's plans to address this? This also needs to be discussed in a public meeting, because if African Americans and other minorities are not significantly represented in Maple Heights government (especially in full-time and high salaried and leadership positions), and there are no plans to address this, and money keeps flowing from African American tax payers who help pay city worker's salaries and benefits, to [what looks to be predominantly Caucasian] city workers and contractors (many) who live outside the city, then getting a levy passed, may be fought vigorously by African Americans in this city to vote against the levy.
Minorities are still significantly under represented even though African Americans are almost 70% (or more) of the population in Maple Heights. What are the city's plans to address this? This also needs to be discussed in a public meeting, because if African Americans and other minorities are not significantly represented in Maple Heights government (especially in full-time and high salaried and leadership positions), and there are no plans to address this, and money keeps flowing from African American tax payers who help pay city worker's salaries and benefits, to [what looks to be predominantly Caucasian] city workers and contractors (many) who live outside the city, then getting a levy passed, may be fought vigorously by African Americans in this city to vote against the levy.
African Americans in Maple Heights also want a concerned citizen's group, an independent civilian review board and an independent citizen's advisory board (where the mayor has no authority to appoint board members, and city council members have limited input), because they feel their needs and wants are not being met, and their voices disregarded by Maple Heights government employees (that includes all elected officials). Some residents feel that community policing is also necessary. Generally speaking, people who live in Maple Heights have a vested interest in making sure Maple Heights is a vibrant, safe, and economically sound city.
Note:
Note:
African Americans who have voiced concern about, or are fighting for, more diversity in Maple Heights government, and wish to discuss a range of other pertinent topics (like holding a public meeting), have reported break-ins and acts of vandalism, some even called racist, etc. Not sure what the connection is yet (if any).
[*Just learned from ESOP that Maple Heights is still either the worst or one of the highest in foreclosures in the county. That means the city is still losing thousands of dollars in property taxes. Why didn't the city do more to help homeowners hold onto their properties? What are they doing presently to help homeowners prevent foreclosure? And I don't want the mayor or other members of council to take credit for what councilman Richard Trojanski is doing to address home foreclosures all by himself.
Property values are still in decline, yet real estate companies are still listing property in the $90,000 range even with foreclosed homes all around. Why is HUD selling foreclosed homes to real estate investors for $15,000 to $20, 000, who then list the property for $80,000 to 94,000? There needs to be an investigation. Also why are we seeing a company called Corelogic (**CORELOGIC, 2500 WESTFIELD DR, ELGIN, IL 60124) listed for the tax mailing address of many of these properties?]
[*Just learned from ESOP that Maple Heights is still either the worst or one of the highest in foreclosures in the county. That means the city is still losing thousands of dollars in property taxes. Why didn't the city do more to help homeowners hold onto their properties? What are they doing presently to help homeowners prevent foreclosure? And I don't want the mayor or other members of council to take credit for what councilman Richard Trojanski is doing to address home foreclosures all by himself.
Property values are still in decline, yet real estate companies are still listing property in the $90,000 range even with foreclosed homes all around. Why is HUD selling foreclosed homes to real estate investors for $15,000 to $20, 000, who then list the property for $80,000 to 94,000? There needs to be an investigation. Also why are we seeing a company called Corelogic (**CORELOGIC, 2500 WESTFIELD DR, ELGIN, IL 60124) listed for the tax mailing address of many of these properties?]
[To be further edited]
To request public documents: Ohio Sunshine law manual
Related:
Cuyahoga County cities brace for property tax losses by Laura Johnston, July 9, 2012
Update:
Please read the July 25, 2012 Neighborhood News (section that talks about Maple Heights - reduction in mayor and council salary) and also responses to this post in the comment section.
Update on Corelogic:
The Illogic of CoreLogic, August 26, 2012
To request public documents: Ohio Sunshine law manual
Related:
Black America's Mobility Crisis by Jamelle Bouie, July 18, 2012
Cuyahoga County cities brace for property tax losses by Laura Johnston, July 9, 2012
Update:
Please read the July 25, 2012 Neighborhood News (section that talks about Maple Heights - reduction in mayor and council salary) and also responses to this post in the comment section.
Update on Corelogic:
The Illogic of CoreLogic, August 26, 2012
11 comments:
I don't see there being any significant change w/o getting the courts involved. This administration will probably fight like hell to keep the status quo in Maple Heights. More reason to remove the people who are now in charge when they come up for re-election.
I agree with your comment totally because I grow up here and after coming back here from being away for a long number of years with no problems or trouble with or from anyone, I found that Maple heights has gotten worst. If it takes the Supreme Court to change the way things have gotten when we all should stand up together to fight for these needed changes.
It's not really the people in the different neighborhoods (OK it's not all the people)that I'm talking about, but I'm talking about some of the people in the city's different departments here including the Mayor and police that treat everyone and anybody black (especially)or white like they just "killed someone" when though they have done nothing at all.
Change is coming very soon, soon change is coming! Everyone get out an vote and stand together for change in Maple heights and the world!
These white people in high levels of this city's government love to give money to folks who don't live in Maple Heights. I guess it's all about giving away our money to outsiders.
My family moved to Maple Height when I was 15 years old I'm Now 37 ages old. Back then we were harassed by our neighbors, the police and the city from the first day we moved into our house only because we are black and they are white, that's racism and discrimination.
Recently, I moved back to Maple and see that the racism and discrimination did not change, but instead it got worst. My kids and I have not been in any kind of legal trouble nor any other kinds of problems, but to come back here and have so many legal problems for nothing does not make no sense.
It has to be racism and discrimination when you call or flag them down for help and you go to jail for nothing and they do nothing about why they were called or flagged down in the first place.
Racism still exist here in Maple and the rest of the country too. It is way past time for this to change its been 23 years of this and this is happening not to just me and my family, but to so many other African-American families here in Maple Heights.
We need a meeting, change, and help for these action to stop. I feel that if we have to get help outside of Maple to get all those things and bring it back here. Then I think we need to do that so that the changes that are needed can happen for all African-Americans living in Maple.
Just saw the following in Monday's Plain Dealer:
"And unlike most school and library tax rates, which increase as values decrease, cities' rates are fixed. So when values drop, cities take a hit."
http://www.cleveland.com/cuyahoga-county/index.ssf/2012/07/cuyahoga_county_cities_brace_for_property_tax_losses.html
So I guess our property taxes are going to increase to pay those bond interest payments related to those new schools.
It was recently reported that council had passed a resolution (?) to reduce the mayor's salary and council's salary when current terms expired. It was said that the mayor vetoed the resolution (?). If this is true, and the council is serious, will they override the mayor's veto?
I just saw the July 25th Neighborhood News. No wonder Maple Heights is in such dire circumstances. These people that run this government haven't got a freaking clue how to get a community to thrive. The mayor and most of council need to be voted out of office.
A community thrives when money circulates within a community. The people who are getting all of Maple Heights residents money are people that don't live in Maple Heights.
As for the mayor's comments about the reduction in the mayor's salary: Well, the person he supposedly admires (the President of the United States - Barack Obama) stated that people who work for government are public servants, and they don't enter into public service to make money, they come to government service to serve the people they represent.
Some of these salaries and benefits of these public employees need to be reduced. I could see some of these salaries being justified if most of the people (esp. high salaried and full-time) actually live here, and reflected the demographics of the city.
The city of Maple Heights (with a declining population that is now an estimated 23,100) has unemployment figures reaching near 9% or more, and African Americans probably more than 10%, yet Toni Jones says we should raise property taxes while folks continue losing their homes. Is she crazy? So folks who can hardly keep their homes now, will really be in worse shape with an increase in property taxes? What an idiot.
Like I said, these people have no idea what it takes to govern and have a vibrant, economically strong city. They keep giving resident's money to people that don't live here.
Help people who live here. Help residents hold on to their property, help resident's open up businesses here. Tell Vopat (who makes too much money, and doesn't live here) to stop giving the donations she collects, to people that don't live here. We have a lot of musical talent within Maple Heights. Good lord ... please send these folks packing. Pleeeze
"A community thrives when money circulates within a community. The people who are getting all of Maple Heights residents money are people that don't live in Maple Heights."
Sorry, I should have said "many of the people who are getting most of Maple Heights resident's money are people that don't live in Maple Heights."
John Montello, who was Lansky's choice in 2008 to replace the previous law director, .. was able to find a 1924 case law to declare a council seat vacant (district 5) before Carolyn Gamble's council seat had expired, but he couldn't find that Maple Heights 1977 Affirmative Action Agreement. I wonder how hard he looked.
The Maple Heights City Schools Community Connection just came out. In it they published the "Annual Notices" dealing with discrimination. What a joke.
The school kids are predominantly black, but did you ever get a good look at the staff?
So much for no tax levies or tax increases.
December 19, 2012 Council Meeting
"COMMITTEE REPORTS:
Councilwoman Toni Jones, Chairwoman of the Finance Committee presented the minutes of the
meeting held on November 26, 2012 at City Hall. Councilwoman Jones stated that the entire
Council attended along with Mayor Lansky, Linda Vopat, and the Police and Fire Chiefs.
Councilwoman Jones stated that the Committee discussed various ways to increase revenue and
decrease expenditures of the City with possible levies and tax increases to retain fiscal stability
and to keep the City operating at the level that the residents expect."
http://mapleheights.cuyahogacounty.us/pdf/minutes/121912-Minutes-CouncilMtg.pdf
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